Hey all, I am 18 and have been on my crazy search for a nice alittle mini. This is my first post soo YEahhh. But anyways, I have looking for a decent little mini here in the states for a few months now but it is just hard to find one that is in my 5000 dollar price range that isn't a total piece of junk. So I was searching in the uk and I happen to run across a decent little mini that is a 1977 with 82,000 miles on its 1275cc motor. The guy said it has rust work done before he bought it on the rear subframe and both sills. He said it also has alittle rust spots here and there but nothing really bad. He said it runs good though with no smokes or oil leaks. I have attached some photos also so you guys can see it. I just wanted to get you guys opinion. I should be able to get it here with shipping and all for about 3000-$3500 which gives me alittle extra to work on it. I found a guy in a english mini forum that said he could go and have a looksee at it too. So I think it will be a good started project mini. I really wish I could get one that is newer but because of that stupid import law I have to buy one atleast 25 years old. I asked alot of enlish people if they would try re-gestering it but it just seems to illegal and too much time and work.

So anyways just tell me what you guys think!
Thanks

 

She's a cutie!! Welcome to NAM.

 

Thanks! I hope that she doesn't have alot of rust and it pretty clean so that I can have her shipped and be driving her! I really want her!

 

I felt the same way about my Mini. You'll love her no matter what when you get her.

 

Yeah, I saw yours! It is a beautiful mini! This one looks alot worse as far the shape it is in but I would like to fix her up. How is your as far as rust?

 

Thanks!! She barely has any (visible) rust. A couple small rust bubbles and a little surface rust under the back seat but other than that she's good.

 

wow thats nice! Hope mine is in alright shape underneath and elsewhere.

 

just be carful buying from across the pond........looks nice though...

 

The left and right door skins look like they needed replacing

 

also dont forget to figure in cost of shipping across the pond and whatever cost if any with customs (im not sure cause i've never bought a car direct from england)

 

Yeah he said the passenger door skin was rusted and the person before him filled it and then sprayed it but it would need replacing. But the cost for the mini and all shipping and papers was about 3500 which too me is not bad if itsn't that rusted and runs. I can always work on it. I just want a mini sooo bad! lol

 

make sure you have him take pics of the underside of the door as well, you should get 20 to 30 pics before buying (my opinion).......i have seen a few mini's with rust on the door skin that also need a rebuild of the doors underside or new door (depending on how much metal work you wanna do).........use the buyer guide when purchasing https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=111423

it will help you know what your getting youself into.......a repratable seller will be willing to take as many pics as you need of the car your wanting to buy........if they avoid going out of the way to give you details, there is a reason for it!!!!

Hit me up if you have any questions.........alot of people on here will vouch that I am always willing to discouse in full details anything !!!!.....also minimad is a great person to talk to about technical in depth issues

 

You can't find a running Mini in the States for $3,500. That said, expect a lot more rust than is stated or pictured. Cars are ALWAYS worse than their photos. The UK idea of a "little" rust is the US idea of a rust bucket. Caveat Emptor. As stated, get as many photos of the floors inside & out, undecarriage, sills, inside the rear bin bottoms, etc & post them here. We'll give them a gawk...

 

kk I will

 

I would want to see what they did with the rear sub frame as well. Repairs made when the intention is to sell the car are far different than when you are planning on keeping the car.

There looks to be some rust under the headlights as well.

I would also want to know more about the mechanical condition. You could easily eat up that $1500 you have to play with fixing mechanical problems and not get to touch the rust.

Mine needed about $700+ just to pass state inspection in Pennsylvania. My car was exempt from emissions by 1 year but it would never have passed without a full engine rebuild.

I'm not trying to scare you away, just make sure you know what you are getting. I know it's tough to pass up that impulse to buy cause you can have it now. You may be better off working a little overtime and increasing your price range a little.

 

Hey guys, that guy just sent me an email with pictures and some answers to my questions and here is what he said. I am kinda mad he only sent like 4 pictures but I think he was just getting the rust. I am proabbly going to ask for more!

I have all the details that you requested and they are as follows

The engine is 998cc
Its a single carb
There are no electrical problems i have put scotch blocks on the headlight wires so all you need to do is connect spotlights and they will come on with the full beams
The glass is as good as new no chips or scratches
Body is steel
Alternator is fine
Changing gear is smoother than most modern cars

I have attached some more photos

The rust that you can see in the photos are just surface rust

I haven't got a price for shipping as yet as my mate doesn't work weekends so should be able to get a price for you tomorrow
hope this helps

speak to you soon

I have all the details that you requested and they are as follows

The engine is 998cc
Its a single carb
There are no electrical problems i have put scotch blocks on the headlight wires so all you need to do is connect spotlights and they will come on with the full beams
The glass is as good as new no chips or scratches
Body is steel
Alternator is fine
Changing gear is smoother than most modern cars

I have attached some more photos

The rust that you can see in the photos are just surface rust

I haven't got a price for shipping as yet as my mate doesn't work weekends so should be able to get a price for you tomorrow
hope this helps

I have all the details that you requested and they are as follows

The engine is 998cc
Its a single carb
There are no electrical problems i have put scotch blocks on the headlight wires so all you need to do is connect spotlights and they will come on with the full beams
The glass is as good as new no chips or scratches
Body is steel
Alternator is fine
Changing gear is smoother than most modern cars

I have attached some more photos

The rust that you can see in the photos are just surface rust

I haven't got a price for shipping as yet as my mate doesn't work weekends so should be able to get a price for you tomorrow
hope this helps

speak to you soon

http://bl114w.blu114.mail.live.com/m...8&n=1737641299

http://bl114w.blu114.mail.live.com/m...38&n=872581877

http://bl114w.blu114.mail.live.com/m...8&n=1939583390


http://bl114w.blu114.mail.live.com/m...8&n=1211013326

 

I can not see the images. :{

 

sorry most have messed it up. I think I am going to pass on this mini anyways. I asked a few guys in the english mini forums and they said it would take alot of work. So they are helping me find a good mini over there. It is soo hard to catch one of these little buggers for a low price.

 

I have seen a few show up in the states on non mini only classifieds such as craigslist for around $5500 to $6000. Sometimes people aren't real sure of what they are worth and you can find a pretty good deal.

 

i think you can get something state-side for around $5k then you won't have to worry about getting it across the pond and into the states.

 

your taking a big chance by buying across the pond.......contact 2phun (that his screen name on here)......he bought 3 from a repretuble guy over there.....might be a little safer since i've seen the cars delivered.......

 

Minis rust from the inside out. It's kinda like roaches. If you see one, there are tons of others hiding in the walls. So if you are seeing that much surface rust, I'd be wary of what was hidden underneath.

If you do want to get a vehicle from across the pond, spend a couple hundred bucks and have a group like RAC go and inspect the vehicle for you. They'll give you an in-depth report about the structural and mechanical condition of the car so you know as much about the car as you can without seeing it in person.

 

If you find one located near Cambridge and want someone to go look at it, I used a guy there to inspect and purchase two cars for me. His report was pretty thorough and true (and cheaper than RAC). www.yourclassic.co.uk

He also has the capability to repair/restore the vehicle for you as well, but I'm not entirely sold on this part of his business. Might be cheaper to get someone Stateside to do the repairs (like Big Norm) and then you at least get to see what's being done and do quality control.

UPDATE

Okay, I am taking back my recommendation of Phil Kruman at www.yourclassic.co.uk. In fact, I'm suggesting you AVOID using any of his services. If you have questions or want details, PM me.